Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH GAS AGITATED ICE
PREVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to mobile offshore drilling units, often
called "jack-up"
drilling units or rigs that are used in shallow water, typically less than 400
feet, for
drilling for hydrocarbons.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the never-ending search for hydrocarbons, many oil and gas
reservoirs have
been discovered over the last one hundred and fifty years. Many technologies
have been
developed to find new reservoirs and resources and most areas of the world
have been
scoured looking for new discoveries. Few expect that any large, undiscovered
resources
remain to be found near populated areas and in places that would be easily
accessed.
Instead, new large reserves are being found in more challenging and difficult
to reach
areas.
[0003] One promising area is in the offshore Arctic. However, the Arctic is
remote
and cold where ice on the water creates considerable challenges for
prospecting for and
producing hydrocarbons. Over the years, it has generally been regarded that
six
unprofitable wells must be drilled for every profitable well. If this is
actually true, one
must hope that the unprofitable wells will not be expensive to drill. However,
in the
Arctic, little, if anything, is inexpensive.
[0004] Currently, in the shallow waters of cold weather places like the
Arctic, a
jack-up or mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) can be used for about 45-90
days in the
short, open-water summer season. Predicting when the drilling season starts
and ends is a
game of chance and many efforts are undertaken to determine when the jack-up
may be
safely towed to the drilling location and drilling may be started. Once
started, there is
considerable urgency to complete the well to avoid having to disconnect and
retreat in the
event of ice incursion before the well is complete. Even during the few weeks
of open
water, ice floes present a significant hazard to jack-up drilling rigs where
the drilling rig
is on location and legs of the jack-up drilling rig are exposed and quite
vulnerable to
damage.
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[0005] Jack-up rigs are mobile, self-elevating, offshore drilling and
workover
platforms equipped with legs that are arranged to be lowered to the sea floor
and then to
lift the hull out of the water. Jack-up rigs typically include the drilling
and/or workover
equipment, leg-jacking system, crew quarters, loading and unloading
facilities, storage
areas for bulk and liquid materials, helicopter landing deck and other related
facilities and
equipment.
[0006] A jack-up rig is designed to be towed to the drilling site and
jacked-up out of
the water so that the wave action of the sea only impacts the legs which have
a fairly
small cross section and thus allows the wave action to pass by without
imparting
significant movement to the jack-up rig. However, the legs of a jack-up
provide little
defense against ice floe collisions and an ice floe of any notable size is
capable of causing
structural damage to one or more legs and/or pushing the rig off location. If
this type of
event were to happen before the drilling operations were suspended and
suitable secure
and abandon had been completed, a hydrocarbon leak would possibly occur. Even
a
small risk of such a leak is completely unacceptable in the oil and gas
industry, to the
regulators and to the public.
[0007] Thus, once it is determined that a potentially profitable well has
been drilled
during this short season, a very large, gravity based production system, or
similar
structure may be brought in and set on the sea floor for the long process of
drilling and
producing the hydrocarbons. These gravity based structures are very large and
very
expensive, but are built to withstand the ice forces year around.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] The invention more particularly relates to an ice worthy jack up rig
for drilling
for hydrocarbons in potential ice conditions in offshore areas including a
flotation hull
having a relatively flat deck at the upper portion thereof. The flotation hull
further
includes an ice bending shape along the lower portion thereof and extending
around the
periphery of the hull where the ice bending shape extends from an area of the
hull near
the level of the deck and extends downwardly near the bottom of the hull along
with an
ice deflecting portion extending around the perimeter of the bottom of the
hull to direct
ice around the hull and not under the hull. The rig includes at least three
legs that are
positioned within the perimeter of the bottom of the hull wherein the legs are
arranged to
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be lifted up off the seafloor so that the rig may be towed through shallow
water and also
extend to the sea floor and extend further to lift the hull partially or fully
out of the water.
A jack up device is associated with each leg to both lift the leg from the sea
bottom so
that the ice worthy jack up rig may float by the buoyancy of the hull and push
the legs
down to the seafloor and push the hull partially up and out of the water when
ice floes
threaten the rig and fully out of the water when ice is not present. A gas
agitation system
is provided to agitate the water near the legs and reduce issues with ice near
the legs.
[0009] The invention further relates to a method for drilling wells in ice
prone waters.
The method includes providing a flotation hull having a relatively flat deck
at the upper
portion thereof and an ice bending shape along the lower portion thereof where
the ice
bending shape extends from an area of the hull near the level of the deck and
extends
downwardly near the bottom of the hull and an ice deflecting portion extending
around
the perimeter of the bottom of the hull to direct ice around the hull and not
under the hull.
At least three legs are positioned within the perimeter of the bottom of the
hull. Each leg
is jacked down in a manner that feet on the bottom of the legs engages the sea
floor and
lifts the hull up and fully out of the water when ice is not threatening the
rig while the rig
is drilling a well on a drill site. The hull is further lowered into the water
into an ice
defensive configuration so that the ice bending shape extends above and below
the sea
surface to bend ice that comes against the rig to cause the ice to submerge
under the
water and endure bending forces that break the ice where the ice flows past
the rig. The
method further includes agitating the water near the legs to reduce issues
with ice near
the legs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A more complete understanding of the present invention and benefits
thereof
may be acquired by referring to the follow description taken in conjunction
with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0011] Figure 1 is an elevation view of a first embodiment of the present
invention
where the drilling rig is floating in the water and available to be towed to a
well drilling
site;
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[0012] Figure 2 is an elevation view of the first embodiment of the present
invention
where the drilling rig is jacked up out of the water for open water drilling
through a moon
pool;
[0013] Figure 3 is an elevation view of the first embodiment of the present
invention
where the drilling rig is partially lowered into the ice/water interface, but
still supported
by its legs, in a defensive configuration for drilling during potential ice
conditions; and
[0014] Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view showing one end
of the
first embodiment of the present invention in the Figure 3 configuration with
ice moving
against the rig.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Turning now to the detailed description of the preferred arrangement
or
arrangements of the present invention, it should be understood that the
inventive features
and concepts may be manifested in other arrangements and that the scope of the
invention
is not limited to the embodiments described or illustrated. The scope of the
invention is
intended only to be limited by the scope of the claims that follow.
[0016] As shown in Figure 1, an ice worthy jack-up rig is generally
indicated by the
arrow 10. In Figure 1, jack-up rig 10 is shown with its hull 20 floating in
the sea and legs
25 in a lifted arrangement where much of the length of the legs 25 extend
above the deck
21 of the hull 20. On the deck 21 is derrick 30 which is used to drill wells.
In the
configuration shown in Figure 1, the jack-up rig 10 may be towed from one
prospect field
to another and to and from shore bases for maintenance and other shore
service.
[0017] When the jack-up rig 10 is towed to a drilling site in generally
shallow water,
the legs 25 are lowered through the openings 27 in hull 20 until the feet 26
at the bottom
ends of the legs 25 engage the seafloor 15 as shown in Figure 2. In a
preferred
embodiment, the feet 26 are connected to spud cans 28 to secure the rig 10 to
the
seafloor. Once the feet 26 engage the seafloor 15, jacking rigs within
openings 27 push
the legs 25 down and therefore, the hull 20 is lifted out of the water. With
the hull 20
fully jacked-up and out of the water, any wave action and heavy seas more
easily break
past the legs 25 as compared to the effect of waves against a large buoyant
object like the
hull 20. Well drilling operations may commence in the ordinary course while
there is no
ice in the area. The ice-worthy jack-up drilling rig 10 is designed to resist
ice floes by
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assuming an ice defensive, hull-in-water configuration as shown in Figure 3.
In Figure 3,
ice tends to dampen waves and rough seas, so the sea surface 12 appears less
threatening,
however, the hazards of the marine environment have only altered, and not
lessened.
[0018] When the ice-worthy jack-up rig 10 assumes its ice defensive, hull-
in-water
configuration, the hull 20 is lowered into the water to contact same, but not
to the extent
that the hull 20 would begin to float. A significant portion of the weight of
the rig 10
preferably remains on the legs 25 to hold the position of the rig 10 on the
drill site against
any pressure an ice flow might bring. The rig 10 is lowered so that inwardly
sloped,
ice-bending surface 41 bridges the sea surface 12 or ice/water interface to
engage any
floating ice that may come upon the rig 10.
[0019] The sloped ice-bending surface 41 runs from shoulder 42, which is at
the edge
of the deck 26, down to neckline 44. Ice deflector 45 extends downward from
neckline
44. Thus, when an ice floe, such as shown at 51 comes to the rig 10, the ice-
bending
surface 41 causes the leading edge of the ice floe 51 to submerge under the
sea surface 12
and apply a significant bending force that breaks large ice floes into
smaller, less
damaging, less hazardous bits of ice. For example, it is conceivable that an
ice floe being
hundreds of feet and maybe miles across could come toward the rig 10. If the
ice floe is
broken into bits that are less than twenty feet in the longest dimension, such
bits are able
to pass around the rig 10 with much less concern.
[0020] In Figures 2, 3 and 4, the present invention offers an additional
ice defensive
aspect where air blower 35 is arranged to blow air down through hoses to the
spud cans
28. The spud cans 28 include holes or diffusers to release air bubbles to
agitate the water
around the legs 25. The agitated water is stirred to prevent ice from forming
on the legs
and creates a natural flow away from the legs. With the gas agitation system,
it may be
practical to maintain the rig 10 in the configuration shown in Figure 2 when
ice first
becomes a concern rather than immediately begin the involved process of
transitioning
the rig 10 from the configuration shown in Figure 2 to the defensive, hull-in-
water
configuration shown in Figure 3. This may be helpful if weather forecasts
suggest
possible ice conditions for a period of time followed by storms and heavy seas
(in which
the out of the water configuration shown in Figure 2 is preferred).
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[0021] Ice has substantial compressive strength being in the range of 4 to
12 MPa,
but is much weaker against bending with typical flexure strength in the range
of 0.3 to 0.5
MPa. As shown, the force of the ice floe 51 moving along the sea surface 12
causes the
leading edge to slide under the sea surface 12 and caused section 52 to break
off. With
the ice floe 51 broken into smaller floes, such as section 52 and bit 53, the
smaller
sections tend to float past and around the rig 10 without applying the impacts
or forces of
a large floe. It is preferred that ice not be forced under the flat of bottom
of the hull 20
and the ice deflector 45 turns ice to flow around the side of the hull 20. If
the ice is really
thick, the ice deflector 45 is arranged to extend downwardly at a steeper
angle than
ice-bending surface 41 and will increase the bending forces on the ice floe.
At the ice
deflector 45, an ice deflector is positioned to extend down from the flat of
bottom of the
hull 20. In an optional arrangement, the turn of the bilge is the flat of
bottom at the
bottom end of the ice deflector 45.
[0022] To additionally resist the forces that an ice floe may impose on the
rig 10, the
feet 26 of the legs may be arranged to connect to cans 28 set in the sea floor
so that when
an ice floe comes against the ice-bending surface 41, the legs 25 actually
hold the hull 20
down and force the bending of the ice floe and resist the lifting force of the
ice floe
which, in an extreme case, may lift the near side of the rig 10 and push the
rig over on its
side by using the feet 26 on the opposite side of the rig 10 as the fulcrum or
pivot. The
cans in the sea floor are known for other applications and the feet 26 would
include
appropriate connections to attach and release from the cans, as desired.
[0023] It should probably be noted that shifting from a conventional open
water
drilling configuration as shown in Figure 2 to a hull-in-water, ice defensive
configuration
shown in Figure 3 may require considerable planning and accommodation
depending on
what aspect of drilling is ongoing at the time. While some equipment can
accommodate
shifting of the height of the deck 21, other equipment may require
disconnections or
reconfiguration to adapt to a new height off the sea floor 15.
[0024] The ice-worthy jack-up drill rig 10 is designed to operate like a
conventional
jack-up rig in open water, but is also designed to settle to the water in an
ice defensive
position and then re-acquire the conventional stance or configuration when
wave action
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becomes a concern. It is the shape of the hull 20 (as well as its strength)
that provides ice
bending and breaking capabilities.
[0025] The hull 20 preferably has a faceted or multisided shape that
provides the
advantages of a circular or oval shape, and may be less expensive to
construct. The
plates that make up the hull would likely be formed of flat sheets and so that
the entire
structure comprises segments of flat material such as steel would likely
require less
complication. The ice-breaking surface would preferably extend at least about
five
meters above the water level, recognizing that water levels shift up and down
with tides
and storms and perhaps other influences. The height above the water level
accommodates ice floes that are quite thick or having ridges that extend well
above the
sea surface 12, but since the height of the shoulder 42 is well above the sea
surface 12,
the tall ice floes will be forced down as they come into contact with the rig
10. At the
same time, the deck 21 at the top of the hull 20 should be far enough above
the water line
so that waves are not able to wash across the deck. As such, the deck 25 is
preferred to
be at least 7 to 8 meters above the sea surface 12. Conversely, the neckline
42 is
preferred to be at least 4 to 8 meters below the sea surface 12 to adequately
bend the ice
floes to break them up into more harmless bits. Thus, the hull 20 is
preferably in the
range of 5-16 meters in height from the flat of bottom to the deck 20, more
preferably 8-
16 meters or 11-16 meters.
[0026] It should also be noted that the legs 25 and the openings 27 through
which
they are connected to the hull 20 are within the perimeter of the ice
deflector 45 so that
the ice floes are less likely to contact the legs while the rig 10 is in its
defensive ice
condition configuration as shown in Figure 3 and sometimes called hull-in-
water
configuration. Moreover, the rig 10 does not have to handle every ice floe
threat to
significantly add value to oil and gas companies. If rig 10 can extend the
drilling season
by as little as a month, that would be a fifty percent improvement in some ice
prone areas
and therefore provide a very real cost saving benefit to the industry.
[0027] In closing, it should be noted that the discussion of any reference
is not an
admission that it is prior art to the present invention, especially any
reference that may
have a publication date after the priority date of this application. At the
same time, each
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and every claim below is hereby incorporated into this detailed description or
specification as an additional embodiment of the present invention.
100281 Although the systems
and processes described herein have been described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and
alterations can be
made. Those skilled in the art may be able to study the preferred
embodiments and identify other ways to practice the invention that are not
exactly as
described herein. It is the intent of the inventors that variations and
equivalents of the
invention are within the scope of the claims, while the description, abstract
and drawings
are not to be used to limit the scope of the invention. The invention is
specifically
intended to be as broad as the claims below and their equivalents.
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